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Palau Signs Agreement To Allow Taiwanese Medical Students To Intern At National Hospital

Submitted by PIR Editor on Tue, 07/25/2017 - 09:37

Ministry of Health
Koror, Republic of Palau

July 20, 2017

On July 14, 2017 the Republic of Palau Ministry of Health (MOH) and E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in support of a joint medical internship program. The MOU was signed by Republic of Palau Minister of Health Dr. Emais Roberts and E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University Superintendent Dr. Yuan Kun Tu. Present to witness the signing were Tenth Olbiil Era Kelulau (10th OEK) Senate President Hokkons Baules, 10th OEK Speaker of the House of Delegates Sabino Anastacio, Republic of China—Taiwan Ambassador to the Republic of Palau His Excellency Michael Y. K. Tseng, Airai State Madame Delegate Victoria Kanai, Ngarchelong State Madame Delegate Dilmai Saiske, the Honorable Senator Stevenson Kuartei, the Honorable Senator Aric Nakamura, and officials from the Ministry of Health.

The MOU outlines a pilot internship program that would allow medical students graduating from I-Shou University to complete their internship requirement at the Belau National Hospital. The medical interns will be practicing under the guide of attending physicians from both Palau and E-Da Hospital. The attending physicians will rotate on a monthly, two-week basis and will provide expertise in different medical specialties. In addition to supervising the interns, the attending physicians will also offer medical consultation to patients in Palau.

E-Da Hospital and I-Shou University are located in the Dashu District of Kaohsiung, Republic of China—Taiwan. Both institutions are supported by the E United Group, a group that operates a number of businesses in Taiwan spanning from the manufacturing industry to educational institutions. The group supports the improvement of Taiwan’s community through projects that promote better living quality, learning opportunities, and health services. E United Group was established by its chairman, Mr. I-Shou Lin.

The MOU between MOH and E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University is a step towards improving the quality of healthcare services offered to Palau’s community. By encouraging the internship of local as well as international medical students, Palau opens an opportunity to utilize the expertise of accomplished medical professionals as well as improve its understanding about the continuous advancements in the medical field.

Two Palauan medical graduates, Ms. Samantha S. Olkerill and Ms. Rilang Roberto, will be the first participants of the pilot internship program. Ms. Olkeriil and Ms. Roberto graduated with high honors (valedictorian and salutatorian respectively) from I-Shou University last month. They will begin their internship at the Belau National Hospital this August.

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